Thailand has officially reopened its borders to international travellers, with the creation of a new visa for foreign tourists. Travellers can already apply for the new visa via Thailand’s official government website. Approval of the new visa will be subject to a range of stringent entry requirements, designed to maintain the health and safety of travellers nationwide and prevent any further outbreaks of Covid-19.
The new Tourist Visa is valid for 60 days. Citizens of all nations are eligible to apply. In order for a new visa to be approved, applicants must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR swab test, taken within 72 hours of flight departure. All arrivals under the new visa must also undergo a second Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival, to be absolutely certain they are free of the virus before entering Thailand.
Two further technical requirements of the Tourist Visa include proof of income and medical insurance. A bank statement must be provided, to demonstrate income from the last six months equivalent to a minimum THB 500,000 (US$16,500); medical insurance covering the entire duration of stay is also mandatory, with at least USD 100,000 in coverage and Covid-19 provision included.
Successful applicants will be required to spend the first 10 days of their stay in alternative state quarantine (ASQ), with proof of reservation required in the application process. Once this is completed, they will be free to travel in Thailand, provided they observe all health and safety protocols – such as wearing a mask and physical distancing.
The new Tourist Visa follows the successful reintroduction of international tourism to Thailand last month, under the Special Tourism Visa (STV) – a long-stay visa for citizens of designated low-risk countries. The STV is valid for an initial 90 days but can be extended multiple times. The list of countries approved for STV application is as follows: Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, China, Cuba, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Hong Kong, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Macao, Mongolia, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Korea, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Uruguay and Vietnam.
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